Cluj-Napoca Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca featuring forests
Cluj-Napoca showing heritage architecture
Cluj-Napoca showing heritage architecture
Cluj-Napoca featuring forests

Spend a few days exploring excellent museums, bohemian cafés and historic churches in this spirited student-driven city.

Cluj-Napoca, often known as simply Cluj, has Romania’s largest student population percentage. The youthful crowd lends the city a cosmopolitan air and contributes to its lively nightlife scene. People-watch from the terrace of one of the open-air cafés lining the city’s main square, admire lovely Baroque architecture and attend a show at the theatre and opera house.

The city’s main square, Piaţa Unirii, surrounds St. Michael’s Church, one of the most striking examples of Gothic architecture in the country. Inspect the late 14th-century altar as well as the gorgeous 15th-century frescoes decorating the southwestern chapel. Stop by on Saturday evenings to hear one of the church’s free organ recitals.

Stroll through the Alexandru Borza Botanic Gardens, one of the largest gardens in southeastern Europe. Look inside the gardens’ museum and explore greenhouses filled with tropical and desert plants. Among the highlights in the garden are the 7-foot-wide (2-metre) Amazon water lilies and the serene Japanese garden.

Visit the superb Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, one of the finest ethnographic museums in the country. Spread across two floors, the museum features more than 65,000 artifacts, including tools, weapons, crafts, traditional clothing and household items.The museum also includes an excellent open-air component, displaying a collection of peasant houses and buildings.

In the evening, watch a play or opera at the colourful Romanian National Theatre. The theatre was designed in the early 20th century by well-known Austrian architects Fellner and Helmer. Check out photos of past performances decorating the walls of the opulent lobby.

Cluj-Napoca International Airport is 4 miles (7 kilometres) from the city centre, which can be reached by bus or taxi. The city is also well connected to Braşov, Bucharest, Budapest and Sibiu by train. Reach the main attractions by bus, tram and trolleybus. Many of the major sites and hotels are actually within walking distance of one another. Experience the beguiling charm and fascinating culture of this bustling city.

Where to stay in Cluj-Napoca

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Cluj-Napoca City Centre

4.5/5(15 area reviews)

Cluj-Napoca City Centre is noteworthy for its historical sites, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Unirii Square and Matthias Corvinus House.

Cluj-Napoca City Centre
Romania showing a small town or village

Old Town Cluj-Napoca

4/5(9 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Old Town Cluj-Napoca, Unirii Square and Matthias Corvinus House are top sights worth seeing.

Old Town Cluj-Napoca
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Zorilor

When in Zorilor, you can plan a visit to Botanical Garden and Gold Casino, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Zorilor
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Plopilor

While visiting Plopilor, you might make a stop by sights like Tarnita Lake and Polyvalent Hall.

Plopilor
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Grigorescu

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Grigorescu and surrounding area, you can visit Hoia Baciu Forest and Cluj Arena.

Grigorescu
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Cetatuia Park

4/5(1 area review)

When in Cetatuia Park, you can plan a visit to National History Museum of Transylvania and Matthias Corvinus House, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Cetatuia Park
Radisson Blu Hotel, Cluj
Radisson Blu Hotel, Cluj
5 out of 5
Aleea Stadionului 1, Cluj-Napoca
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £98 per night from 14 Jul to 15 Jul
£98
14 Jul - 15 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cluj-Napoca. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (114 reviews)
"Wry clean , staff is great and most comfortable beds."

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Radisson Blu Hotel, Cluj
Grand Hotel Italia
Grand Hotel Italia
5 out of 5
Str. Vasile Conta Nr.2, Cluj-Napoca
The price is £88 per night from 26 Jul to 27 Jul
£88
26 Jul - 27 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cluj-Napoca. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Botanical Garden and Tailors' ...
9/10 Wonderful! (203 reviews)
"Nice hotel, good service, safe and convenient, good location easy parking"

Reviewed on 10 May 2025

Grand Hotel Italia
Grand Hotel Napoca
Grand Hotel Napoca
4 out of 5
Strada Goga Octavian 1, Cluj-Napoca
The price is £82 per night from 27 Jul to 28 Jul
£82
27 Jul - 28 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Cluj-Napoca. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Central Park Simion ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (53 reviews)
"The staff was helpful and friendly The room was clean and comfortable"

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Grand Hotel Napoca
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
ZEN Central Apartments
ZEN Central Apartments
3.5 out of 5
22 Strada Ploiesti, Cluj-Napoca, CJ
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly apartment in Cluj-Napoca. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an airport shuttle (surcharge). Popular attractions Dormition ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (53 reviews)
"Great accommodation but the shower was only half working and the shower tray was damaged which was a bit of a pain! Apart from that, excellent!"

Reviewed on 1 Nov 2024

ZEN Central Apartments
Gaudi Accommodation
Gaudi Accommodation
3 out of 5
Strada Antonio Gaudi Nr. 47, Cluj-Napoca, CJ
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly apartment in Cluj-Napoca. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and room service. Popular attractions Gheorgheni Sports Center ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (30 reviews)
Best ever stay
"Fabulous place! It very modern, very clean, it was comfortable, it was spacious. It was everything you want and you need. Actually, i wouldn't mind to swap it with my own apartment!"

Reviewed on 13 May 2025

Gaudi Accommodation
ZEN Residential Apartments
ZEN Residential Apartments
3.5 out of 5
3 Aleea Valeriu Bologa, Cluj-Napoca, CJ
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Cluj-Napoca. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an airport shuttle (surcharge). Popular attractions Iulius Mall Cluj and Gheorgheni ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (54 reviews)
"From detailed instructions to get into the apartment to the well detailed attention to things in the apartment, I had a very good stay. It's great how close it is to Iulius Mall. Very much enjoyed my stay"

Reviewed on 10 May 2025

ZEN Residential Apartments
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Cluj-Napoca

4.3
Top destination
5 - Excellent
15
5 - Excellent 48%
4 - Good
11
4 - Good 35%
3 - Okay
5
3 - Okay 16%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Nice enough town local food was good but there are much nicer prettier towns in Romania to visit

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Not sure why was not asked to rate either the Art Museum or the Ethnography Museum. If you're in central Cluj and have an hour or two to spare they are worth the small entrance fee, especially the former which has paintings by Nicolae Grigorescu.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

It’s quite nice but everything is closed on Sunday do it was a big boring

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

It is fine

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Try Che Guevara bar...we loved it!!!

3/5 - Okay

Jackie

Transport can be a problem. Local areas are easy to reach by bus and taxi...both very cheap...but it was impossible to reach other towns and villages by train as nobody at the station seems to know anyrhing about times and destinations!